MTD 130-400A User manual

ASSEMBLY
OPERATION
MAINTENANCE
PARTS LIST
IMPORTANT:
Read Safety Rules
and Instructions
MODEL NUMBERS
130-400A
130-400-300
26 "
RIDING
MOWERS
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
FORM NO. 770-0103

I
t
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
LIMITED WARRANTY
For one year from the date of original retail purchase, MTD PRODUCTS INC will either
repair or replace, at its option, free of charge, F.O.B. factory or authorized service firm,
any part or parts found to be defective in material or workmanship. Transportation charges
for any parts submitted for replacement under this warranty must be paid by the purchaser
unless such return is requested by MTD PRODUCTS INC.
This warranty will not apply to any part which has become inoperative due to misuse,
excessive use, accident, neglect, improper maintenance, alterations, or unless the unit
has been operated and maintained in accordance with the instructions furnished. This
warranty does not apply to the engine, motor, battery, battery charger or component parts
thereof. Please refer to the applicable manufacturer’s warranty on these items.
This warranty will not apply where the unit has been used commercially.
Warranty service is available through your local authorized service dealer or distributor. If
you do not know the dealer or distributor in your area, please write to the Customer Service
Department of MTD.
The return of a complete unit will not be accepted by the factory unless prior written
permission has been extended by MTD.
This warrany gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights which vary
from state to state.
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
I WARNING ^
TO PURCHASERS
OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EQUIPPED
MACHINERY OR DEVICES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The equipment which you have just purchased does not have a spark arrester. If this equipment is used on
any forest covered land, brush covered land, or grass covered unimproved land in the State of California,
before using on such land, the California law requires that a spark arrester be provided. In addition, spark
arrester is required by law to be in effective working order. The spark arrester must be attached to the
exhaust system and comply with Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code.
2

■ ^IMPORTANT
It is suggested that this manual be read in its entirety before attempting to assemble or operate. Keep this
manual in a safe place for future reference and for ordering replacement parts.
This unit is shipped WITHOUT GASOLINE or OIL. After assembly, see operating section of this manual for
proper fuel and amount.
This unit is a precision piece of power equipment, not a plaything. Therefore exercise extreme caution at
all times.
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR RIDING VEHICLES
1. Know the controls and how to stop quickly—
READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL.
2. Do not allow children to operate vehicle. Do
not allow adults to operate it without proper
instruction. Only persons well acquainted
with these rules of safe operation should be
allowed to use your mower.
3. Do not carry passengers
4. Keep the area of operation clear of all per¬
sons, particularly small children and pets.
Stop engine when they are in the vicinity of
your mower. Although the area of operation
should be completely cleared of foreign ob¬
jects, a small object may have been over¬
looked and could be accidently thrown by the
mower in any direction.
5. Clear work area of objects which might be
picked up and thrown by the mower in any
direction.
6. Disengage all attachment clutches and shift
into neutral before attempting to start engine.
7. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop
engine before leaving operating position.
8. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop
engine before making any repairs or ad¬
justments. Disconnect the spark plug wire
and keep the wire away from the plug to pre¬
vent accidental starting.
9. Before attempting to unclog the mower or
discharge chute, stop the engine and be sure
the blade(s) have stopped completely. Discon¬
nect the spark plug wire and keep the wire
away from the plug to prevent accidental start¬
ing.
10. Disengage power to attachment(s) when
transporting or not in use.
11. Take all possible precautions when leaving
vehicle unattended such as disengaging
power-take-off, lowering attachments, shift¬
ing into neutral, setting parking brake, stop¬
ping engine and removing key.
12. Do not stop or start suddenly when going
uphill or downhill. Mow up and down face of
steep slopes; never across the face.
13. Reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns to
prevent tipping or loss of control. Exercise ex¬
treme caution when changing direction on
slopes.
14. Stay alert for holes in terrain and other hidden
hazards.
15. Use care when pulling loads or using heavy
equipment.
A. Use only approved drawbar hitch points.
B. Limit loads to those you can safely control.
C. Do not turn sharply. Use care when back- g
ing.
D. U se counterweight(s) or wheel weights
when suggested in owner’s manual.
16. Watch out for traffic when crossing or near
roadways.
17. When using any attachments, neverdirect dis¬
charge of material toward bystanders nor
allow anyone near vehicle while in operation.
18. Handle gasoline with care. It is highly flam¬
mable.
A. Use approved gasoline container.
B. Never remove cap or add gasoline to a run¬
ning or hot engine or fill fuel tank indoors.
Wipe up spilled gasoline.
C. Open doors if engine is run in garage. Ex¬
haust fumes are dangerous. Do not run
engine indoors.
19. Keep the vehicle and attachments in good
operating condition, and keep safety devices
in place. Use guards as instructed in owner’s
manual.
20. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be
sure the equipment is in safe working condi¬
tion.
21. Never store the equipment with gasoline in
the tank inside a building where fumes may
reach an open flame or spark. Allow engine to
cool before storing in any enclosure.
22. To reduce fire hazard, keep engine free of
grass, leaves or excessive grease.
23. The vehicle and attachments should be stop¬
ped and inspected for damage after striking a
foreign object. The damage should be
repaired before restarting and operating the
equipment.
24. Do not change the engine governor settings
or overspeed the sngine.
25. When using the vehicle with mower, proceed
as follows:
(1) Mow only in daylight or in good artificial
light.
(2) Never make a cutting height adjustment
while engine is running if operator must
dismount to do so.
(3) Shut the engine off and wait until the
blade comes to a complete stop before
removing the grass catcher.
(4) Check blade mounting bolts for proper
tightness at frequent intervals.
26. Check grass catcher bags frequently for wear
or deterioration. For safety protection, replace
only with new bag meeting original equipment
specifications.
27. Look behind to make sure the area is clear
before placing the transmission in reverse
and backing up.

1
INDEX
Limited Warranty. 2
Safe Operation Practices.3
Assembly Instructions.5
Controls. ^
Operating Instructions.9
Maintenance and Adjustments.10
Beit Removal.12
Lubrication. 1 4
Storage.14
Trouble Shooting Chart.15
Electrical Diagram.16
Exploded View of Transmission..17
Repair Parts for Mower. 1 8 -23
Exploded View of Differential.24
Parts Information.Back Cover
GRASS CATCHER Model No. 190-015A is avail¬
able as optional equipment for the mowers shown
in this manual.
I WARNING {
The mower should not be operated
without the entire grass catcher or
chute deflector in place.
Under normal usage bag material is
subject to wear, and should be
checked periodically. Be sure any
replacement bag complies with the
mower manufacturer’s recommen¬
dations.
For replacement bags, use only fac¬
tory authorized replacement bag
No. 764-0121.
IMPORTANT
After striking a foreign object, stop
the engine. Remove wire from spark
plug, thoroughly inspect the mower
for any damage, and repair the dam¬
age before restarting and operating
the mower.
4

steering Wheel
Cover
Steering Wheel Cap
'Hex Nut
'Belleville Washer
Steering Tube
Assembly
Hex Screw
Hex Nut
Steering Shaft Assembly
Speed Nut
Flat Washer
Upper Hex Bearing
Lower Hex Bearing
FIGURE 1. STEERING ASSEMBLY
ASSEMBLY
INSTRUCTIONS
Reference to right-hand or left-hand
side of machine is from the driver’s
seat facing forward.
STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY (See figures 1, 2
and 3)
NOTE
Due to vibration during shipment, it
is possible that the steering shaft
on your unit may have dropped to a
position where alignment of parts is
difficult. This must be kept in mind
during the assembly operation.
1. C heck the upper and lower hex bearings. Be
sure they are seated and in position. See
figure 1.
2. P lace your hand under the front of the unit.
Push up on the steering shaft assembly.
3. Hold up the shaft assembly. Place the steer¬
ing tube assembly on the shaft and start the
_ hex screw through the hole. See figure 2.
4. Fasten the tubihg assembly to the steering
shaft assembly with hex screw and hex nut
provided.
FIGURE 2. STEERING TUBE ASSEMBLY
5. Place two speed nuts on support bracket as
shown in figure 3.
6. Place the cover over the steering tube assem¬
bly. Line up holes in cover with speed nuts.
See figure 3.
FIGURE 3.
5